TODAY: The D’Backs have been in contact with Clippard’s representatives, Fanragsports.com’s Jack Magruder reports (Twitter link).
FRIDAY: Clippard sits “atop [the D-Backs’] wish list” for another late-inning arm, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter).
THURSDAY: Despite saying just yesterday that his team doesn’t “have much going on” in the way of new player acquisitions, Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart tells Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that the club will still look into the free-agent relief market.
After finding the cost too high to add another pen arm via trade, Stewart suggested that the Snakes may yet pull the trigger on an open-market addition. “We could look at what’s left on the free-agent market,” he said. “I keep getting pushed back to the same position: Trading three or four prospects for seventh-inning guys is probably not something I want to do.”
It isn’t entirely clear who might be targeted, but Stewart seemingly indicated that he’s interested in a reasonably significant addition. He certainly suggested that top remaining reliever Tyler Clippard is under some consideration. “We have not talked to his people, (but) that is a good name,” Stewart said of Clippard. “I know we talked about it internally, so I think there’s a pretty good possibility we will (reach out), at least just to see.”
Beyond Clippard, though, there don’t appear to be many fellow free-agent arms that will garner attention from Arizona. “I think there’s probably only going to be a few options that will fit,” said Stewart. “I don’t see there being a bunch.”
The D-Backs did save some cash by shedding Aaron Hill’s contract via trade, and could conceivably deploy that $4MM or so on another arm. As explained in the above link regarding Stewart’s comments from last night, the club has a lot of names in the pen mix but could probably stand to add another, more established piece.
Haha. Gotta love Dave Stewart.
Hours ago “We are not looking at adding any FA’s or making trades”
I think Clippard would be a great addition to the pen. They have a lot of solid 7th-8th inning guys but they could really use one guy with closer experience other than Ziggy.
Clippard won’t cost them a draft pick though
Agreed, it would really be beneficial to the overall team and give more deployment options during games
I’m a D-backs fan. Stewart should not be shocked if other teams ask for 3-4 prospects for a 7th inning guy. He’s been labeled with the “willing to over-pay” tag and now every team in the league is probably looking to take advantage.
Spot on. I kept thinking the Rangers would get them to pull the trigger on one of our pen guys. No such luck
oh sure, express that sentiment that strong HERE. Do that “elsewhere” and be prepared to get nailed.
The Braves have some good bullpen pieces if he is interested. maybe that competitive balance pick and some prospects would do it. Is there anything left in the cupboard for Arizona.
Plenty left. They’ve only dealt three prospects this offseason but the media makes you believe that they dealt their entire farm.
Their entire core of MAJOR leaguers are all very young and under control for the next 5-6 years as well. Stewart knows what he’s doing.
I am pulling for you guys.
I’m a huge Ender Inciarte fan, tough losing him… wish him the best in ATl. If your FO is smart they’ll build around him and Freeman plus all that young farm talent.
they are going to regret trading Inciarte and swanson for miller, a very big over pay. what if they kept both of those guys plus blair and signed mike leake instead.
Brito is the next Inciarte, but before he runs away with the position they need Tomas to get every chance to improve so they can get out of his contract..
Very true, well said.
Lol, but they traded off the roster too, a very useful player at that. And it was their best prospects, not just prospects. If it was diaz instead of swanson in the miller deal it was still an overpay.
Archie Bradley for Jake Mcgee straight up?
Blaine Boyer, Clippard, Morales and Ryan Webb seem to be the values of what is left.
McGee was already traded to Colorado.
Which is why its not a bad idea. I don’t know his groundball/flyball/homer ratios, but the Rays wouldn’t need starting pitching and Colorado need starters who are groundball guys. If Bradley is a groundball pitcher, a deal like that makes sense. I imagine more pieces would have to be thrown around, but a decent basis if, like I said, Bradley is a groundball pitcher (again I don’t know if he is, but just a thought).
Colorado has already tried using sinker ball pitchers and it hasn’t worked. The Word around the league seems to be that they WANT an abundance of fastball pitchers in the pen because fastballs aren’t affected by the altitude like breaking pitches. They will probably keep McGee for now.
I am aware.
Blaine Boyer was actually sneaky good last year up in the twin cities. That may not be a bad pickup for AZ. They could likely get him for relatively cheap.
He has pitched for AZ before and I wasn’t very impressed with him back then, but it appears he’s really improved over the years.
Matt Thorton would be a nice fit too.
Greg Holland is a free agent but will miss the entire 2016 season still recovering from Tommy John, there are a handful of teams including the D-Backs that should take a low risk flier on him and stash him for 2017.
Dave Stewart has no clue. He absolutely overpays. I can’t believe LaRussa and Hall approve these deals.
So, we’re talking about 2 HoFers and one of the most highly respected, young executives in MLB. Just curious about your baseball credentials, that make you think you can pass judgment on them as clueless idiots?
It doesn’t take a mechanic to tell you a car is totaled
haters going to hate…lol
They arent hall of famers for their front office work so whats the relevance?
One of the most highly respected? Where do you gather that from? A guy that gave up Inciarte, Swanson, and Blair for Miller cannot possibly be highly respected.
Dave Stewart isn’t in the Hall of Fame.
Stewart should be taking the Hill savings and the new tv k $ and buyout Pollock’s remaining arb years and extend him a few years beyond.
I imagine they have looked into that all off season. After the past two seasons I would imagine it would take a lot of cash for an extension. AJ will sign for a big contract 3 years from now. That being said, AJ is 28 and is in his prime years now. At age 31 his center field skills may diminish. If they could buy up Arb and add a year that would be ideal for the Dbacks. They should rework Goldies and add some more years to his contract. 1B ages alot better and he is under payed like crazy.
Too late. You have small windows for extensions. Especially because you are asking pollock to sign away his last 2 year prime years(which is what teams pay for when signing long contracts) and essentially give up his chance at the one big contract chance he gets in his career. His speed defense package doesnt age well so at 32 hes looking at a 4 yr deal max instead of 30 with a chance at an 8 yr megadeal.
Another strong arm in the pen would be well worth the money, the rotation and position players are set barring a few competitions in the spring. The dbacks have shed a lot of unfavorable contracts from the previous regime over the past 14 months. Yes they attached some highly regarded prospects to do so in some cases, but all the prospects were from positions of depth (Middle infielders and right handed SP’s). The propensity among the media, especially Dave Cameron @ Fangraphs, to take everything Dave Sewart says as fact is ignorant and starting to be laughable. Stewart is the hand making the phone calls and the face speaking to the media, but. DeJon Watson and Bryan Minniti are the minds behind closed doors making these carefully thought out decisions.
Inside information you have. – Yoda
Carefully thought out? They didnt even offer the touiki package to any other team. They easily could have got something of value back in that.
And 29 GM’s look at their lists of mediocre middle relievers and wonder if they can get the Dbacks best three prospects back for him …
If those 29 GMs were working for the D’backs, with their need for dramatic pitching upgrades, and if they had the cahones, they would have done the same deal. Stewart sold high on two prospects and a player with a one year track record. Everybody assumes they will all be HoFers, but look a little closer and you will see huge red flags for that proposition.
They aren’t trading talent. They’re trading value.
Prospects have huge value.
I’d assure you that about 25 of those GMs would have rather of spent 200M to sign Chen, Kazmir, Clippard, Bastardo and Gallardo, considering those 5 will probably produce more value as Grienke and Miller will.. Plus the D”Backs would have had 2 top prospects and an elite defensive outfielder.
Yes, you are right, but…the D’backs were so far behind the Dodgers and the Giants because of their starting pitching, that only Greinke and someone else who was a near #1 starter could possibly close that gap. No one would be speaking about the D’backs as a Western Division contender if they had only signed some combination of Kazmir, Maeda, Chen, Gallardo, etc. Everybody knows that prospects have some value, how much is often debated. Stewart had to close that pitching gap in order to take a shot ar contending for the next 3 years, with Goldschmidt, Pollack and the rest of a young team in its prime. So would 25 of those GMs have signed lesser starting pitchers? You’re probably right. That’s why I said they lack the cahones to go for it right now, all in.
Miller is not a near number 1 starter! Ill put money arron blair has an e.r.a within .25 runs of miller this year.
I have no problem with them signing greinke, the trades have been stupid though. At the very least they could have plugged more holes with what they have given up.
Miller has a top end of a #2….but he could also be a #4. AZ gave up waaaaay too much for him. I appreciate the FO going for it, but wow. I’d love for AZ to overtake LAD & SF.
The Braves can help you out again with late inning relief. Arodys Vizcaino, RH Closer 9sv, 100+ heat and Andrew McKirahan, LH for Archie Bradley and Stryker Trahan.
Stryker Trahan!!!! No way! He was a first round draft pick! That has to mean he’s headed for the HoF! Oh, wait. He can’t hit his way out of a paper bag and he won’t stick as a catcher, even in the low Minors. You want him? Take him.. He’s just slightly overrated compared to Dansby Swanson!
But what an awesome name for a baseball player, though. Trade him to the Phillies so I can hear that announcement at CPB.
Almost as fun to say as *Harry Kalas voice* “Mickey Morandini!”
I dont think swanson is a top 10 prospect but they gave up 3 guys who will be in the majors by the end of the year for shelby miller. At 3 key positions at that.
I found this part amusing “Closer 9sv”
Yes it is amusing. 9 for 9 in six weeks, the same as the total games won for the Braves during that time. Vizcaino ranked as MLB 15th best closer.
i admire their effort to win now.
The best late inning arm for the DBacks may already be in their bullpen: Daniel Hudson. He looked sharp at points last season and if he can stay healthy, I can see him taking over the closer’s role by mid-season.
Here comes another fleecing…
Hudson would be good choice. Maybe Archie can do it for 8th or 9th.
As a dbacks fan I’ve learned never trust anything that comes out Dave Stewart’s mouth. Second I don’t like this at all. Clippard is an extreme fly ball pitcher. Pitchers who are in this category tend to get hit hard at chase
Ex Cub and O’s Tommy Hunter not bad and did have success as a closer and later deserve shot did ok for the Cubs doing there push for September.2015
Is it just me, or does Dave Stewart seem like the most talkative gm in recent memory?